Tehran: Iran launched a large-scale missile assault on Israel on Sunday, just hours after the United States carried out airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities. The escalation marks a significant turning point in the ongoing regional conflict that began on June 13.
Sirens blared across major Israeli cities including Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Jerusalem, as Iran fired dozens of missiles, reportedly in two separate waves. Air raid alerts triggered mass evacuations to bomb shelters, with visuals showing missile interceptions lighting up the skies. Israeli emergency services confirmed at least 20 injuries due to the attacks, with videos showing emergency workers rescuing civilians from damaged buildings in Tel Aviv and northern Israel.
“Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps indicated they are now deploying one of their most advanced missiles, the Kheibar Shekan,” reported Al Jazeera’s Tohid Asadi from Tehran. The missile, also known as Khorramshahr-4, was unveiled in 2022 and has a range of 1,450 kilometers, capable of carrying heavy payloads.
The Iranian response came after US President Donald Trump declared American forces had “obliterated” key Iranian nuclear sites at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. “If peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill,” Trump warned.
In retaliation, Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the US strikes as an “unprecedented breach of international law and a grave violation of the UN Charter.” It called the airstrikes a “heinous crime” and accused the United States of a “brutal military aggression” in cooperation with Israel. The ministry stated that Iran “is resolved to defend its sovereignty, territory, security, and people by all means.”
Tehran also appealed to the United Nations to convene an emergency Security Council meeting and hold the United States accountable for what it called an “egregious violation” of international norms. “The world must not forget that it was the United States that, in the midst of a diplomatic process, betrayed diplomacy,” the ministry said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi also voiced frustration over the derailment of diplomatic efforts. “Last week, we were in negotiations with the US when Israel decided to blow up that diplomacy,” he posted on X. “This week, we held talks with the E3/EU when the US decided to blow up that diplomacy.”
The Israeli military said it was investigating a technical failure after reports emerged that air raid sirens did not sound in Haifa. Authorities confirmed fragments of weapons fell in the area and that emergency teams were dispatched.
Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran’s nuclear safety center confirmed there were no detected increases in radiation levels at the targeted nuclear facilities.
As tensions soar, Israel announced it would temporarily reopen its airspace to repatriate thousands of its citizens stranded abroad. Ben Gurion Airport will allow landings between 14:00 and 20:00 GMT on Sunday under “Operation Safe Return.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) expressed deep concern over the escalating violence. “The world cannot absorb limitless war,” said the ICRC president, calling on all parties to protect civilians and respect international humanitarian law.
The conflict, already deadly with over 25 Israelis killed and at least 50 missile impacts reported since June 13, now risks spiraling into a wider regional war. Iran, meanwhile, has vowed “everlasting consequences” if the US continues its involvement.